REASONS TO BUY
Simple design
Great customer service
REASONS TO AVOID
No backlight
No scheduling
Small display screen
Emerson NP110 Review
This simplistic model lacks higher-order programming and remote access, but it's accurate and economic
Credit: Emerson
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Our Verdict
The Emerson NP110 is a basic digital thermostat that offers customers the bare bones of HVAC controls in a simple format. The low price reflects the unit's lack of higher-order programming such as scheduling and event settings. Additionally, the Emerson NP110 does not have WiFi connectivity and, thus, lacks an app for remote control of the device. That said, our testing of the unit's internal thermometer revealed that the thermostat is accurate across a wide range of settings. So, if you crave accuracy, simplicity, and economy in your thermostat, give this Emerson review a read.
Our Analysis and Test Results
If you want a basic, inexpensive digital thermostat to hang on your wall, the Emerson NP110 is a decent option as it is accurate and pretty easy to install.
Performance Comparison
The Emerson NP110 is a basic thermostat with a distinct lack of higher-order programming options.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Emerson NP110 is a simple digital thermostat. While it is not complicated to operate, there are some annoying aspects of the device's design and several absent features that we use to evaluate it that lead to having a low score in the ease of use metric. That said, the Emerson NP110 is quite easy to set up — simply plug in wires and attach it to the wall — that's it.
While the Emerson NP110 is easy to set up, this is in large part due to the lack of “smart” features. For example, the Emerson does not have time and date settings. The absence of time and date means that there are no advanced settings whatsoever — no schedules, no events, not even a vacation mode.
The quick and easy setup of this device is due to its lack of programming, internet connectivity, or remote access.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
To make temperature adjustments on the Emerson NP110, you use one of two mechanical buttons (up/down). We found this design to be quite annoying because each degree requires you to press and then wait for the change to register before moving on to the next degree. Mercifully, you can make multi-degree jumps by holding down the button.
The LCD screen of the Emerson NP110 is easy to see when you're up close, and the area is well lit. However, the screen is a bit small, which can make it hard to read at a distance. Moreover, there is no backlight, so it can be hard to see at night.
Making changes to the temperature is not as easy as the up/down buttons would suggest - each degree change requires a prolonged wait before the next one can be made. Annoying? You got that right.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Install & Support
Whereas the Emerson NP110 did poorly in the previous evaluation, it made it in the install and support metric. As the name implies, this metric looks at the thermostat installation process and customer support, including supporting documentation. It also looks at the WiFi setup and app installation if applicable. The Emerson NP110 is a leader in the class in this evaluation.
To test customer support, we sent the manufacturer an email asking them to aid us in the setup of the thermostat. We record the response time and utility of the message. Emerson not only replied within a few hours of our initial email, but their email was also quite helpful. In our experience, this kind of prompt response is rare.
I you think you might struggle with hooking up your new thermostat to the HVAC wires, rest assured that Emerson has some of the best email customer service we have encountered.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The documentation included for the thermostat is very basic but then again, so is the Emerson NP110, so there's no problem there. However, unlike some of the competition, the Emerson NP110 does require a small screwdriver to lock/unlock wire ports, and the working area is a bit tight. However, everything is clearly labeled, and the instruction document provides illustrated steps making it very clear what to do. Finally, there is no WiFi and, thus, no app, so those steps are excluded.
Installing batteries is not only a critical part of the set-up, it also offers a nice back-up should the power go out.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Remote Access
We also include an evaluation of the remote access capabilities of the thermostats under our review. The Emerson NP110 lacks WiFi and thus an app. So, there is no remote access on which to evaluate this device. While the Emerson NP110 receives a zero in this evaluation, the lack of remote access may appeal to those not interested in yet another “smart” device in their home or office.
The Emerson is a great option if remote access is not important to you.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Accuracy
Our accuracy metric focuses exclusively on the precision of the thermostat's internal thermometer. We use a laboratory-grade thermometer as our control and we test the thermostat on a wide range of temperatures. The Emerson NP110 was within a degree of the control in every single test.
The Emerson is super accurate in detecting temperature.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Value
We conceptualize value as a ratio of price and performance. While the Emerson NP110 is indeed an inexpensive device, its performance roughly matches its price point. While we wouldn't categorize this device as a value purchase, we think it is priced fairly.
Conclusion
This review of the Emerson NP110 digital thermostat takes a detailed look at all the features and performance specifications that one would want information on before making a purchase. Our four metrics looked at ease of use, installations and customer service, remote access, and temperature accuracy. While the device lacks remote access, it is reasonably easy to use, has great support, and is pretty accurate.
—Nick Miley and Matt Spencer
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